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FAQs for Clients

The legal process can intimidate almost any personal injury client.. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the process. We invite you to browse our firm’s site, to understand the many successful results that we have obtained for our personal injury and wrongful death clients. For more information, please contact us.

We're the law firm that other lawyers in the Seattle/Tacoma/Everett/Spokane area and the rest of Washington State turn to -- when they see that a case needs to go to trial or is too complex for them to handle. Skip that step and come straight to us.

Our attorneys are nationally recognized for their excellence. There is a reason why we have the largest number of Super Lawyers compared to any other Washington State personal injury firm. Our top-notch legal minds and financial resources help get the best results for our clients.

For personal injury cases, the law firm of SKW takes the majority of cases on a contingency basis. This means that if you do not recover anything as our client, then we do not charge for our time. If you receive an award (either by a settlement or a favorable jury verdict), SKW will recover our attorney fees as a percentage of the total amount recovered.

Costs are treated differently than attorneys’ fees. Costs are expenses incurred during the litigation, such as copying charges, filing fees, expert witness fees, etc. Under Washington’s rules of professional conduct, these expenses remain the client’s ultimate responsibility; however, it is our practice to advance costs during the course of a lawsuit. Costs can be paid out from a settlement award or favorable jury verdict.

With so many attorneys available to represent you in your personal injury case, how do you decide which one is the best for you.

1Identify your needs

The type of case you have changes the type of attorney you need. In general, a straightforward car crash case with modest injuries can be handled by most personal injury attorneys. On the other hand, complex, serious injury or death cases deserve the attention of highly experienced attorneys with strong track records. You might not think you need an experienced trial attorney if your goal is to settle a case. But, insurance companies take into account your attorney's reputation when they decide how much to offer. Attorneys who do not try cases generally are able to secure less for their clients than attorneys who do.

2Research several lawyers

First consultations are always free, so take the time to interview more than one lawyer. Ask friends, family and leaders in your community if they know lawyers. But don't take their word for it. Use the internet to look the lawyers up. Don't be sidetracked by billboards, tv ads and flashy websites. Look at the actual attorney profiles on the web to see: 1) how long have they been in practice; 2) what associations do they belong to - in particular look to see if they belong to plaintiff trial lawyer associations also known as "justice" associations; 3) have they held leadership positions; 4) do they teach other lawyers or in law schools; 5) do they have a track record of trial results; 6) do they have a track record of settlement results; 7) have they written professional papers; 8) have they been honored by their peers; 9) do they handle a bit of everything or are they more focused on personal injury; 10) do they stand out in any particular way - or are they cookie-cutter types.

3Make sure you feel a positive connection

When you meet with the lawyer for the first time, how does it feel? Is the lawyer focused on you? Or are they constantly being interrupted? Or distracted. Do they remember what you are saying? Do they have good eye contact? Do you feel like this is someone you can trust? Do they keep you waiting without apology? Do you actually meet with the lawyer or with staff? Do the documents you are given to fill out seem appropriate. Has care been taken to make sure that the office is a welcoming and caring place. Do you feel like you are being treated with dignity and respect. And as an individual with individual needs.

4Notice whether the attorney seems caring and knowledgable

When you speak with the attorney do they listen closely. When you ask questions do they answer them or beat around the bush. If you have a technical question are they able to confidently give you an answer or tell you what it will take to get a good answer.

5Ask who will actually be working on your case

You may think you are hiring a particular attorney. But as time goes by you may find that they are not actually doing the work on your case. Ask this at the outset. Who will work on your case? What role will each person have? Some firms are set up to settle large numbers of cases. Instead of getting personal attention, your case will be treated as if it is on a production line. Some firms have new associates or law student interns doing much of the work. Finding out how the firm will staff your case will prevent misunderstandings in the future. Or it will lead you to your next attorney interview

6Decide whether you can trust the attorney

You have to go with your gut instinct on this, but plenty of small clues go into deciding whether you can trust someone or not. Your personal injury claim is an important matter - regardless if it is a modest sized case or a very complex and large one. This will be the person who will champion your cause. And ultimately give you recommendations on how to best resolve them.

7Beware of overblown promises

The attorney is not the insurance company or the judge. That means you should beware if when meeting them for the first time they tell you how much your claim is worth and promise to get it for you. Lawyers are held to high professional standards. But overly eager attorneys have been known to use puffery to sign up a client.

8Ask for their track record

Especially in cases where the injuries are very severe or death has resulted, you should ask the lawyer to show you their track record. Highly experienced attorneys maintain lists of important cases they have handled and resolved. Make sure that if you have a case that may need to be filed as a lawsuit and tried, that the attorney has a history of strong trial results. Make sure the list includes both "settlements" and "verdicts."

9Come away with a meaningful action plan

During your first visit the lawyer should not simply listen to you and give preliminary advice. They should also provide you with an immediate action plan. This is particularly true if the event recently occurred. For example, they may arrange for an investigator to interview witnesses. Or an inspector to review machinery or a vehicle. Or a photographer to document injuries. They will want to gather all sorts of documentation, including insurance information. The attorney will need to identify insurance subrogation (paying back your own insurance company from any proceeds) issues at the outset. If a case is against a governmental entity, they will need to file claim forms. If statute of limitations is an issue emergency actions will take place.

10Make sure the paperwork is right before you sign it.

Does the attorney seem more interested in whether you will sign the retainer agreement, than actually interacting with you. If so, this is a warning flag. Sure the attorney may be worried you will choose someone else. But if they don't have the confidence to let you make this choice on your own, in your own good time, then how confident will they be in fighting for your rights in court. You should either be given the retainer ahead of time so that you can read it before seeing the lawyer. Or you should be given the retainer to take home and study. The lawyer should be able to answer any questions you have about the retainer. Almost all personal injury retainers are contingent fee and do not require up front payment of costs (like filing fees and doctor testimony fees). If the retainer seems odd, compare it with another firm's retainer. If there is a mistake or unacceptable position (like paying costs in advance) in a retainer ask the attorney to fix it.

11Conclusion

This is a general summary and not an exhaustive list of things to think about when choosing a personal injury attorney. Best wishes in your search for the right attorney for you and for your case.

Remember that each case is different. No attorney can guarantee a case’s outcome. We depend on our clients to provide us with truthful and complete descriptions of what occurred along with all of the relevant information available. Occasionally, we will consult with experts to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a case. When we arrive at a clear understanding of the facts, we can advise you about the likelihood of recovering damages in your case.

Our goal is always to obtain a just and fair resolution of your case as quickly and efficiently as possible. Sometimes a case is resolved in a matter of months, while others take a year or longer. Different factors affect the length of a case. One factor is your goals of the case. Other factors include the pace of the court system, the opposing party’s openness to settle or cooperate during litigation, and the option to appeal the case.

As with most civil cases, the trial date is typically scheduled at least a year from the time the lawsuit begins. This allows both sides adequate time to exchange information, talk to witnesses, and prepare for trial. At any point during this process, a case may resolve, or it may proceed to trial in the event that a settlement is not reached. Our numerous years of experience and large support staff enable us to complete your case as quickly as possible and limit delays.

We invite you to review our firm's background, our results, and our history of handling case similar to yours. There is a reason why we are the only personal injury law firm in Washington State to have as many of our attorneys listed as "Super Lawyers." We point proudly to our long track record of obtaining justice for people just like you.

If your specific case falls outside of our area of expertise, we will let you know and, if possible, refer you to someone who can help.

We at SKW treat our clients with the understanding that you have likely already experienced a great amount of pain. Our job is to listen and focus on your best interest. After learning everything about your case, we develop a legal strategy, employing our significant resources, trial experience, and legal knowledge -- all to ensure that you get the best result possible.

SKW's Seattle personal injury attorneys, Seattle accident attorneys and wrongful death attorneys are committed to obtaining justice for victims of serious car accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, and all other forms of personal injury. We serve all of Washington State with offices in Seattle & Hoquiam, WA.